Coaching Staff Sign New Deals
Wednesday, 13th Sep 2023 19:17

Town first-team coaches Martyn Pert, Lee Grant, Charlie Turnbull and Rene Gilmartin have signed new contracts which run until the summer of 2027.

In June, Blues boss Kieran McKenna put pen to paper on a new deal which runs for the same period.

Assistant manager Pert following McKenna from Manchester United when he took charge at Portman Road in December 2021 and was joined by head of analysis Turnbull, who came in from Fulham.

First-team coach Grant following the next summer after he hung up his gloves having also been at Old Trafford.

Head of goalkeeping Gilmartin joined the club just prior to McKenna, assisting interim-manager John McGreal before taking over as keeper-coach after McKenna took over.

"I’m delighted the coaching staff have committed their futures to the long-term project, developing the team and the club,” McKenna told the club site.

“They have had a massive part to play in the considerable improvement of the team and the individual players over the last 18 months, alongside all of the other fantastic staff at Playford Road, who have helped to create a positive and challenging environment that has allowed a number of individuals to thrive and the team to pick up positive results.

“I look forward to working alongside Martyn, Rene, Lee, Charlie and all of the other fantastic staff to keep pushing towards success.”

Grant

Turnbull

Gilmartin

Photos: TWTD/Matchday Images

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NthQldITFC added 19:30 - Sep 13 These people are self-evidently doing brilliant jobs. Congrats on your new contracts, keep up the great work.
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Karlosfandangal added 19:31 - Sep 13 Excellent news Let’s hope we can keep them for 4 more after this deal
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Edmundo added 19:47 - Sep 13 The machine that Ashton and McKenna are building has many parts, but these guys are critical. Well deserved.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 20:05 - Sep 13 Workmanlike Q & A session on Town TV at which this news was announced. On another tack, unless I misunderstood, I think it was said Town sold 52000 kits last year. Amazing! My wife's comment was, "Well you've got half of them!" -:)
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Suffolkboy added 20:16 - Sep 13 The TEAM ethic continues inexorably — thank goodness ,but is anyone surprised given the values and beliefs in evidence from top down at the happy Club that is ITFC ? Super Blues — come on !
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OliveR16 added 21:16 - Sep 13 Something special is happening that only us old ones remember.
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Bert added 22:11 - Sep 13 This has to be the most stable period in our club’s history. From the owners to the management team and the players, something great is happening.
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wokingblue added 06:51 - Sep 14 Please don't wake me up ......
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PhuketPete added 09:14 - Sep 14

Heh OliveR16…. Clearly Bert isn’t one of the older ones .. we’re on the way to recreate the stability and success of the 70’s/80’s under SBR and the Cobbolds, (which was itself built from the rather dire situation that had emerged after the fantastic success of the SAR era - champions at three levels in six years)… but whether we equal or surpass those golden eras will only be seen in time.

What we can say for certain is that the speed of transformation is breathtaking, coming so rapidly after 20 years of despair and near bankruptcy. (And say what some do about ME, he at least assured the club lived to fight another day).

Naylorsrightboot added 09:32 - Sep 14 Bert: Before your time probably, but we were a very stable club back in the day and very successful with it.
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Orraman added 11:14 - Sep 14

Consistency and stability are essential foundations for a successful football club. It would be marvellous if all parties mentioned in this article are still here in 2027 because that would be proof indeed that we are really established back in the top level as we were in the great Sir Bobby days.
We all know that in football lengthy contracts can be bought out or terminated but the hierarchy at Ipswich are giving the management and coaching staff time to put their long term plans into operation without fear or undue pressure and I would be greatly surprised if any knee jerk reaction followed any difficult spells which are always possible at any club.